Tour de France: David Millar to mount Paris podium when Garmin take team title

Published on Saturday 23 July 2011 16:02

DAVID Millar will achieve a career first today, standing on the final podium of the Tour de France in Paris with his Garmin-Cervélo team mates as winners of the teams' classification.

And the 34-year old Scot has double cause for celebration, confirming yesterday that he has signed a new three-year contract, which will take him to the end of his career, and a final bow in Glasgow at the Commonwealth Games.

"It was never really in doubt that I wouldn't sign another contract with Garmin," said Millar after placing 40th in the time trial. Apart from days when I'm dropped after 3km, on the first climb of the day, and then I've questioned my sanity, and asked myself why I'm doing it at all."

It has been a gruelling Tour for Millar, who also rode the three-week Giro d'Italia in May. In Italy he won a similar time trial stage on the penultimate day, but in France his form disappeared as fatigue set in.

That was also due to the amount of work he and his team mates did in the first week, defending Thor Hushovd's yellow jersey.

On Friday's final stage in the mountains, to Alpe d'Huez, Millar was one of the first to be dropped, along with Austria's Bernhard Eisel.

Millar didn't think he was going to make the time limit, and urged Eisel, who rides for a rival team, to continue without him. "Davie," replied Eisel, "we go home together, or to Paris together."

For Millar, Paris will mean being part of the winning team. "It's one of the reasons I'm so fatigued," he said.

"We all went so deep in this Tour, but the team prize is the reward. To be honest, I think it's our biggest achievement as a team.

"To be able to stand on the podium in Paris, for the first time, will be an amazing feeling."

When Millar returned from his doping ban in 2007 he said 2012 would be his final season. But he is enjoying a renaissance with the Garmin team, and remains committed to their founding principles, which revolve around a strong anti-doping ethos.

That such a team has proved the strongest team in the Tour de France will encourage many to believe that the sport is considerably cleaner than when they first appeared in 2009.

Another reason for Millar pushing back his retirement date is the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he says he will defend his gold medal in the time trial. "I want to sign off with the Commonwealth Games," he said.